Of all places, we like to think of playing fields as having a level playing field. But, alas, one of the last places where people from different socioeconomic backgrounds actually mix and mingle is increasingly becoming a sad reflection of the economic divide. Matt Richtel in the NYT (Gift Article): The Income Gap is Becoming a Physical-Activity Divide. “A combination of factors is responsible. Spending cuts and changing priorities at some public schools have curtailed physical education classes and organized sports. At the same time, privatized youth sports have become a multibillion-dollar enterprise offering new opportunities — at least for families that can afford hundreds to thousands of dollars each season for club-team fees, uniforms, equipment, travel to tournaments and private coaching. ‘What’s happened as sports has become privatized is that it has become the haves and have-nots.'” When we fail to interact with one another, we all lose.